Tires are generally a locally available material in developing countries, and are a key material for structures like those by GoPlay and Basurama. They're also often a prominent feature in adventure playgrounds, which share a commitment to low-cost and recycled components. Friend and playground advocate Tim Gill reminded me about the amazing manual for building tire structures by the late James Jolley, which is online in its entirety in memory of its author's commitment to children's environments.
Full instructions for every imaginable form of tire structure as well as some constructs using cable spools and barrels, too! Delightful. In my backyard growing up, we had a traditional swingset along with a big dirt hill (my mom asked the workers for a dumptruck of dirt when they were building the road), a barrel, an enormous tractor tire and a cable spool...hours of fun, especially before the trees were tall enough to climb.
In keeping with my line of thought lately about playground rubrics, here is how Jolley divided the types of playground functions provided by his designs:
1. Climbing
2. Swings
3. Sand and water play
4. Dramatic play
5. Landscaping, retaining walls etc.
6. Fantasy
7. Loose or movable constructive
8. Quiet
9. Movement equipment
10. Group
11. Solitary
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| A tire dragon to Jolley's design by Learning Structures in New Hampshire |
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